Trait-based analysis

Bone-eating Osedax snot-worms

We are creating a database of known ecological traits in deep-sea taxa to help assess the impacts of climate change.

The traits of its members determine how an ecosystem functions. We are conducting a thorough assessment of known ecological traits for organisms in deep-sea ecosystems. The information will be shared through an open-access database.

The database will form a resource for analysis of potential impacts of climate change on species and their ecosystems.

The Museum will lead the first of these analyses as part of the Climate Change in the Deep Sea (CLIDEEP) project, funded by the INDEEP foundation.